Guest guest Posted November 20, 2003 Report Share Posted November 20, 2003 Hi Carol, My young endo never saw fit to run an FT3 for me, but I understand it's important to check it, at least occasionally (apparently T3 is cheaper). The reasoning is that (1) T3 reflects other factors besides thyroid hormones, such as estrogen levels and a variety of meds; only FT3 reveals what's available to the thyroid. (2) There can be conversion problems, meaning that someone could have a high FT4 reading but a low FT3 reading; there can also be toxicosis, where you have an low FT4 reading but a high FT3 reading. Once you've ruled out these problems, you can assume that your FT4 and FT3 move together, but until then you can't, and the T3 is not accurate enough to tell you this. My endo just slipped up and ordered an FT3 by mistake, or I would have approached her with this. I guess my question would have been, don't we need the FT3 test to rule out toxicosis and conversion problems? It frustrates me to feel insurance companies are running the show, esp. if it keeps us from getting the tests we need! Best wishes, B. I have no idea how I'm going to convince him to do the FT3. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks! Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2003 Report Share Posted November 20, 2003 circle it on the lab slip he gives you on your way to the lab! Update & Endo #2 Hi Carol, My young endo never saw fit to run an FT3 for me, but I understand it's important to check it, at least occasionally (apparently T3 is cheaper). The reasoning is that (1) T3 reflects other factors besides thyroid hormones, such as estrogen levels and a variety of meds; only FT3 reveals what's available to the thyroid. (2) There can be conversion problems, meaning that someone could have a high FT4 reading but a low FT3 reading; there can also be toxicosis, where you have an low FT4 reading but a high FT3 reading. Once you've ruled out these problems, you can assume that your FT4 and FT3 move together, but until then you can't, and the T3 is not accurate enough to tell you this. My endo just slipped up and ordered an FT3 by mistake, or I would have approached her with this. I guess my question would have been, don't we need the FT3 test to rule out toxicosis and conversion problems? It frustrates me to feel insurance companies are running the show, esp. if it keeps us from getting the tests we need! Best wishes, B. I have no idea how I'm going to convince him to do the FT3. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks! Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2003 Report Share Posted November 20, 2003 Don't we need the FT3 to rule out toxicosis and conversion problems? Great! Will definitely ask! The insurance companies are frustrating. Fortunately mine tends to let the Docs follow their own protocol as long as it's within reason. What's interesting is that they're only reimbursing the lab for a fraction of the cost of my bloodwork, yet I'm not responsible for the balance. Gross over-pricing on the part of the lab? Makes ya wonder! Thanks, ! Carol Update & Endo #2 My endo just slipped up and ordered an FT3 by mistake, or I would have approached her with this. I guess my question would have been, don't we need the FT3 test to rule out toxicosis and conversion problems? It frustrates me to feel insurance companies are running the show, esp. if it keeps us from getting the tests we need! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2003 Report Share Posted November 20, 2003 LOL!!!! I have been GREATLY tempted to do so. Wonder if I'd get a dressing down when I go in later for f/u to discuss results? Carol Re: Update & Endo #2 circle it on the lab slip he gives you on your way to the lab! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2003 Report Share Posted November 20, 2003 I did it and my endo didn't even said a word about it. When I asked them to send me the results, they also didn't sent that one either. Luckily for me my family doctor gets a copy of everything and she gave me a copy. Re: Update & Endo #2 circle it on the lab slip he gives you on your way to the lab! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2003 Report Share Posted November 20, 2003 My lab slip doesn't even have it on it. The doc writes it in. Terry > > Reply-To: graves_support > Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 06:44:37 -0500 > To: <graves_support > > Subject: Re: Update & Endo #2 > > circle it on the lab slip he gives you on your way to the lab! > Update & Endo #2 > > > Hi Carol, > > My young endo never saw fit to run an FT3 for me, but I understand it's > important to check it, at least occasionally (apparently T3 is cheaper). The > reasoning is that (1) T3 reflects other factors besides thyroid hormones, such > as estrogen levels and a variety of meds; only FT3 reveals what's available > to the thyroid. (2) There can be conversion problems, meaning that someone > could have a high FT4 reading but a low FT3 reading; there can also be > toxicosis, where you have an low FT4 reading but a high FT3 reading. Once > you've ruled out these problems, you can assume that your FT4 and FT3 move > together, but until then you can't, and the T3 is not accurate enough to tell > you this. > > My endo just slipped up and ordered an FT3 by mistake, or I would have > approached her with this. I guess my question would have been, don't we need > the FT3 test to rule out toxicosis and conversion problems? > > It frustrates me to feel insurance companies are running the show, esp. if it > keeps us from getting the tests we need! > > Best wishes, > B. > > I have no idea how I'm going to convince him to do the FT3. Any and all > suggestions are welcome. > > Thanks! > > Carol > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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